Araceli “Cheli” Mohamed has been given Pride weekend's top honor

For the last 20 years, Araceli “Cheli” Mohamed’s been more of a background player during San Diego LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Pride weekend.

She’s done everything from pick up trash to answer questions at the information booth. But this year, she’ll be a lot more visible.

Mohamed was named the Champion of 2013’s Pride. It’s an award given to someone who makes “an exceptional contribution” to the LGBT community.

Instead of checking in volunteers as she normally does, Mohamed, 45, will be riding in the July 13 parade. (Pride weekend goes from July 12 to 14 throughout Hillcrest.)

Mohamed, who moved to San Diego from Brawley in 1985 to attend UC San Diego, currently works as an operations manager for the California Police Athletic Federation. She explains why Pride means so much to her.

Q: When was the first time you attended San Diego Pride? What was it like?

A: The first time was in 1992, as a UCSD student. It was in the parking lot of the Naval Hospital. It was small and on hot asphalt. But as a first time attendee, it was wonderful to hang out with friends and make new ones.

Q: You started out by volunteering and eventually got hired full-time, how did you work your way up?

A: After that first year of volunteering, I fell in love with Pride. The emotions and feeling of belonging, of being together with other people that were just like you, of working together to make a difference. I came back the following year and volunteered in the Tavern on the Green (beer garden), information booth, but fell in love with volunteer check-in and never left. I was hired in 2009 as (Pride’s) Leadership and Community Resources Director.

Q: How do you think Pride will change now that the same-sex marriage ban has been overturned?

A: Pride will always be ever-changing. Pride means something different to every single person. But the one thing that will always remain is that Pride is about who you are: a devoted and loving parent, a patriotic service member, a bike-riding lesbian, and drag queen, a student, a teacher, and most of all a human with the same simple desire to be happy, to love and be loved.

Q: How does it feel to be honored as a Champion of Pride?

A: It’s an incredible honor. I have been blessed with having such incredible mentors, friends and volunteers these past 20 years. The award is really about the passion, commitment and devotion that volunteers have for our LGBT community.

Q: Why do you feel Pride is important to San Diego?

A: It is turning volunteers into the true catalysts for change, empowering our community volunteers to go out and do incredible things.

Q: What is your favorite part of the weekend?

A: Watching the hundreds and thousands of people from all walks of life come together to celebrate our diversity, honor our history, and stand side-by-side as we continue forward with our struggle for equality.